Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Experiments in softies

Can I tell you about Grocer.

Grocer is an experiment, kind of like a little detour on the way to another softie.

I made Grocer on Sunday after shopping for necessary white goods, and he came together in just an afternoon and an evening. I did not measure a single thing, I simply tipped out the wool tub , picked up an old country road skirt and got started. (but I have worked on that gusseted head shape before ).


This is sooooo not me...... I am anal. No, really apart from the whole Librarian thing , I am seriously anal, I am not good at winging it. I draw, and sew , then redraw and sew, then start again and redraw some more - Remember the 13 elephant heads for Parsley and Beet?
I blame Sooz really, she is off there being all organic and creative and making spectacularly beautiful things as she strives and experiments and learns - she blows me away.


So, Grocer was meant to be an experiment...... and experiment in leg / bum joiny bits, and experiment in neck / head joins hidden by collars and an experiment in turny up feet fold bits - really just a set of disjointed parts,


But somehow along the way Grocer became more than the sum of his experimental parts and he became himself.


Thanks Sooz !

it helps that he some of that roguish charm that we, more mature ladies, like in our softies!

74 comments:

yardage girl said...

Grocer is a wonderful looking chap - and very dapper with his coat and handkerchief. I am, as always, amazed with your idea and skill.

Little Waltz said...

Oh he's adorable! So so cute! I love his name as well.

Linda said...

Grocer is VERY handsome indeed and he loks soooo happy to be more than the sum of parts??!!!! Happy New Year Jodie, you are off to a fabulous start already (well apart from the oven thing)

Quilting in My Pyjamas said...

OMG He is gorgeous...and yes I'm a mature lady! (At least in years ...perhaps not behaviour wise )

Your skill and creativity is awe inspiring Jodie.

Selina said...

Oh Jodie! He is so adorable!

Calidore said...

My goodness what a handsome being Grocer is. Absolutely right for us "mature" ladies. Gosh and to think a melted chopping board helped to inspire him....vbg.

Copper Patch said...

He looks like such a dapper gentleman. How charming. Your skill and ability outweighs ANY kitchen disasters.
Ab

Rosie said...

He's so gorgeous! I imagine him with the gruff English accent of an elderly gentleman.

jojoebi said...

he is lovely, looks like a real gent!

Barra said...

He's gorgeous a real gentleman, he's very upper class if I may be so bold. You truly are amazing at the "things" you create.

Bev

Gina said...

I fell in love with that muzzle in the first picture! He's very handsome!

Jan said...

He's so adorable, Jodi. Who needs a blue plastic chopping board anyway (although I hate my oven and might try your replacement strategy myself!)

beck said...

Mr G is one handsome devil. You should wing it more often, you crazy, wild crafter! Imagine who else is lurking in your imagination..??!! Buther, Baker...Candlestick Maker??

Purple Paisley Patch said...

I'm in love, he's gorgeous! I'm partial to a bit of roguish charm, and his coat is to die for. Well done you!!! I'm surprised you used blue fabric, I would've thought you'd shy away from blue for awhile. LOL
It's my birthday today, so can Grocer please send me some birthday kisses?
Kelly :-)

Liesl (Hoppo Bumpo) said...

He is very suave - what a handsome fellow. Continue the experiments I say!

posiepatchwork said...

Super super duper clever work Jodie!! He is fantastic & pretty sure i have that Country Road skirt too - nice to know what else to do with it other than straight to charity when it reaches it's end. Gosh, what skill you have.
I just posted a blog about a 1946 pig softie i found at the National Museum (ACT) as my inspiration (read: ability) & leave these amazing ones to the likes of you.
Love Posie

posiepatchwork said...

Oh nothing wrong with being anal, i'm oral, chatter chatter chatter, can't you tell?? Love Posie

sooz said...

I think it's total bullshit that I had anything to do with it, but hell I will take any slice of credit for this masterpiece - those hands!! those hands are totally killing me! I do like the head very much, and all the other bits, but the hands. Man, you see? You just have "it". You are an artist mate, there can be no denying it when you make up shit like this. I love him and I want him.

sue said...

Oh he is a handsome bear isnt he. He sort of has that Mr. Fantastic Fox charm about him doesnt he. Love his blue jacket too! I think you did very well for "winging" it!

CurlyPops said...

I'm so happy that I got to meet Grocer in person..... and so bummed that I didn't think quick enough to hide him under my skirt and run off with him! I need a man with a bit of rogueish charm.

Cindy said...

I think that this experiment worked a lot better than the cutting board in oven number. Who doesn't love a bit of rogue charm and when you have had enough of the swagger up on the shelf with him - why didn't I think of that before

Stephanie said...

Very dashing in his blue tweedy button jacket! Amazing softie skills Jodie!

Cath from chunkychooky said...

as usual by the time I get here- all the obvious things have been said. he is great, gorgeous, love the name, love the details etc etc etc but to say nothing about him would be... well, rude. he is fantastic!! Love the fabric choices

kim at allconsuming said...

What Sooz said. Totally.

Except the taking credit part. Because you know, I had nothing to do with it. And well, all the softies I've attempted just don't come out how I intended.

So really, it's just the bit about the hands/paws/feet. They slay me in their edible adorableness.

And that nose is just totally smoochable. But man, he looks like he'd get into fiendish trouble.

Reminds me a bit of the actor who plays the Fox character in the remake of Ocean's 11.

Ok, I'm going to stop talking now.

Tanya said...

He's quite the big spunk, then, isn't he

Lark said...

Nice - the little hankie in the pocket is the icing on the cake! x

Mariolonza said...

it's beautiful! I also want to be able to create a character so pretty ... all mine!

Di said...

He's really cool! I can't believe you just rustled him up in an afternoon. I am struggling to move beyond the flat 2D toys to make 3D shapes.....

Karen L R said...

LOVE HIM! And you've reminded me of a very fine cat I had many years ago named Grover...pitch black from head to toe, except for a very few white hairs on his chin.

I think you do very well, just "winging it"!

Griffin said...

"leg / bum joiny bits, and experiment in neck / head joins hidden by collars"

I do love it when you get technical! I love his blue jacket, it's fab! Now if I was just small enough to fit it...!

If this is you winging it... you should definitely wing it more often. With all the experience you have it should be easier for you anyway.

periwinkle said...

oh my --- soo cute overload

WendyBee said...

I looove him! He makes me think of a character in Richard Scarry's BusyTown! (My personal faves)
BTW, Thanks for visiting my blog. It makes me feel like I've spotted a celebrity!
WendyBee

mtnchild said...

Absolutely charming!! With a tiny Derby type hat he would even be called Dapper!
Yvette

eurolush said...

Grocer looks like the handsome, quiet type. I especially admire his tiny pocket handkerchief. Well played, Grocer.


PS-I love your blog and all of your amazingly adorable creatures and sewing wonders. Seeing them always makes me smile. I'm now crazy for selvedges, as well. That dress you made is just...phenomenal...not to mention the CHAIR. WANT.

PPS-I found you through my dear blog pal, Eleanor (from the Comment Box) who met you at the craft fair in Melbourne last year. Lucky me to benefit from your meeting!

XX E

Moogsmum said...

Oh Jodie - as a mature lady I have to say I LOVE Grocer! I totally agree with Sooz, his hands are just fab but I also love that little hankie in his pocket.

You are so clever Boss. I mean, anyone else might never have recovered from the big blue roast fiasco but you have wiped that entirely from our memories with this feat of softie artistry.

Nope. Can't remember a thing about the molten blue chopping board. Or the wrecked cooker. Or your brief outing as the Ballarat Poisoner.

Very clever.

I see what you did there.

xxx

p.s. word verification 'siceo' - is this how your family felt after eating the blue plastic infused roast?...that I've completely forgotten about ;)

Lucy Locket-Pocket said...

Grocer is fabtastic Jodie - strange name, but fab looker!

But now I have been distracted by Missus Moogs comment and can't concentrate.............

Nope, sorry, still sniggering........

Locket xx

Little Mysteries said...

Love him. What a great experiment!

Corrie said...

gorgeous! he's a cute little dude!

corrie:)

Annie said...

wow he is great you are very talented, you were really in the zone. I'm not sure I could do such a great job with a pattern! Good on you.

Gillian aka Silly Gilly said...

Very debonair Jod!! He could be the next James Bond boy!!

monda-loves said...

Happy New Year jodie. I love Grocer, and his organic birth - organic works well for you.

Monda
x

Christina Lowry said...

Oh, I love him so! How amazing too, to discover your talents in spontaneous-no-measure crafting. Love his nose too, such lovely stitchy goodness that nose. :)

Kirsty said...

Grocer is absolutely gorgeous. I love the "wing it" approach.

lucykate crafts... said...

i'm going to say (in my best scouse accent, as in from liverpool!), he's well cute!!

Stine said...

May I be so bold and ask if Grocer is a dog or is he a generic sort of animal? Not that it matters in the least! Grocer is very handsome!

Nice "on the fly" project. Keep up the good work!!

katiecrackernuts said...

You know, when I hear the word experiment, I am thinking Frankenstein-like results. This is seriously not in that ball park. Too good.

Deborah said...

He has such personality! The collar is perfect. He looks like he is ready to have a conversation with me!

Jo James said...

He's perfectly gorgeous, with personality to spare. Way to be spontaneous!

Fer said...

Grocer rocks! You'll have to 'wing it' more often. :)

Cass said...

He is definitely a rogue. Well done

Swirlyarts said...

Grocer is wonderful :) If I 'wing things' it always ends up a huge heap of mess!

9patchnurse said...

Grocer ROCKS! I love his name and expecially that he is all buttoned up with a hankie in his pocket. Great job 'wingin it'.

Thimbleanna said...

Awwww, he's so cute! I LOVE his NOSE!!!!

Micki said...

Grocer is such a cutie and I love his outfit! What a cute guy!
Micki

thetialys said...

You had me at 'gussetted head'!

Anonymous said...

This is why your creations are so spot on- you actually plan and think ahead and keep trying at something when the first incarnation of your idea doesn't work- I have a pathological aversion to my quickunpick, and tend to give up when I can't make the reality in my hands look like the vision in my head.
Creative and persistant! Qualities that make your blog so well loved! Susan

handmade romance said...

i love this guy! beautiful experiment x

Frogdancer said...

Phew! I should have left a comment yesterday when I first saw him.

I really like Grocer. He has an excellent shape. (Just like our fine selves...)

Jo in TAS said...

Wish I could just whip up something like that! You're so imaginative, it must rub off from being around littlies!

julie said...

Oh! he is soooo cuuute! and I did laugh till I cried reading about the chopping board. You sure do fill me with joy. Too funny.

Annie said...

Grocer is simply superb!! I enjoyed having a special cuddle today with said supermarket boy!!!

rachelmp said...

Nice feet!

MiM said...

grocer is so lovely

RoLuc said...

Sexy legs!

Chocolate Cat said...

Grocer is gorgeous!

jenni_sal said...

Very cute, if you round off the ears, shrink the arms and legs and round the body you've got the start of a guinea pig!!
S

ladydi said...

And does Grocer have a story? I love your softie stories. His handkerchief is a charming touch.
Perhaps he works in a grocery.

WendyLou said...

How stinkin cute is this!!!

Stephanie said...

Gee whiz your talent is really amazing, I just ADORE the wee Grocer!!

He is so, so darn cute:-)

PottyMouthMama said...

He is completely DIVINE! I love everything about him (what's NOT to love???), well done, you are so talented. Grocer is ridiculously cute.

Betty Jo said...

If Grocer talked I'd bet he'd have the voice of Sam Neil.....!

steph said...

He is so cute ! I love his toes !

Jenny said...

Another wonderful creature!

Lara said...

He's gorgeous! Almost as handsome as Fantastic Mr Fox!